RADISHES 397 



THE RADISH AS A FORCING CROP 



Construction of frames and hotbeds. In trucking regions south 

 of the District of Columbia, where small vegetables like lettuce, 

 radishes, and early peas are grown, radishes are sometimes handled 

 in frames like those shown in figure 16, page 60, which are made 

 somewhat as follows : Inch boards 12 inches wide are used to con- 

 struct a frame varying in width from 12 to 14 feet, and in length 

 from 25 to 1 50 feet, which is placed upon the surface of the ground 

 or upon slightly raised beds. The ends of the frame are usually 

 made semicircular in outline and are constructed of matched lumber. 

 A line of stakes is driven through the middle from end to end, 

 and a ridge board is nailed to the top, at the height of the semi- 

 circular ends. At intervals of about 6 feet, strips -J x 3 inches 

 wide and 1 6 or 1 8 feet long, depending upon the width of the bed, 

 are sprung over the ridgepole and nailed at each end to the side 

 boards. These serve as a support to the protecting muslin cover, 

 which consists simply of a heavy grade of unbleached muslin, 

 sewed together to form a large tent covering. This is made in 

 sections and sometimes provided with a pole at the edge so that 

 it can be rolled up and placed under a cap on top of, and in the 

 center of, the structure. More frequently, however, the muslin is 

 entirely removed and placed on a drying support at the side, so 

 that when it becomes wet from rain or dew it can be spread out 

 and dried before it is rolled. This is the ordinary construction for 

 a frame used at the South for forcing lettuce and radishes. 



At the North, where the climatic conditions will not permit 

 the use of a simple device of this character, the cloth covering is 

 replaced by glazed sash. Standard hotbed sash are usually em- 

 ployed, and the frame carrying them may be made as described 

 on pages 55 and 56, or two of these frames may be placed back 

 to back so as to give a double width. By the use of sash upon 

 frames of this description, and the additional protection of mat 

 or shutter-covering during severe weather, radishes can be started 

 much earlier than in the open ground. Where a special market 

 will justify additional expense in the cultivation of this crop, 

 hotbeds, with about 12 or 14 inches of manure under them, are 

 constructed for forcing purposes. 



